If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us it’s how to make fewer trips to stores in the Denver Metro area, your preferred Denver dispensary included. If you’re like most smokers, you’ve started digging into your stash in ways you haven’t had to in years. Though weed lasts for a long time when stored properly, it can get old and go bad if you’re not careful. No one likes to smoke old cannabis. It’s less flavorful and just disappointing. Here are a few telltale signs to watch for so you can better tell when it’s time to plan an outing to the dispensary.

Pay Attention to the Way It Smells

You know what great weed smells like and you know what your preferred strains smell like when they’re in good shape. Give your bud a small test. If it smells the same as it normally does after you buy it, it’s still good. But if you notice a strange musty smell or pick up hints of mildew, it’s time to head to the dispensary. The chances are good that the bud has a bit of mold or excess moisture that will ruin the taste and may even hurt your lungs if you smoke it. When in doubt, throw it out.

It’s Moldy

Believe it or not, mold can grow on your weed. This is because fresh bud still has traces of moisture in the flower. If stored incorrectly, that moisture can create the perfect environment for mold to grow. Look at each bud in question. If you notice a fine, fuzzy white mass growing over the top of your bud, it’s time to toss it out. Just make sure you’re not confusing trichomes for mold. If you’re looking at the trichomes, the fuzziness will be patchy at best and restricted to only the tips of the flower. If it’s mold, it will cover the trichomes and penetrate the bud’s core. 

The Bud Crackles

When you prep your bud for use, you break it apart before placing it in your grinder. Use this to your advantage. Pay attention to the way it sounds while you break it apart. If the bud is fresh, it will snap as you break it into pieces, almost like stepping on a dry twig. If it’s old and needs to go, the bud will crackle as you break it.

Give It a Taste

If everything looks and sounds good, the best way to tell if your bud is old is to light up. Old bud won’t give you the same punch of flavor that you’ve come to expect with your cannabis. It will taste stale or flavorless at best. That said, smoking old bud isn’t necessarily bad for you as long as there’s not mold. It just won’t get you as high as you’re used to.

Replace Your Old Bud Now

If your stash is too old, don’t settle for smoking boring bud. Head to your nearest location and stock up on fresh, high-quality cannabis that will delight your tastebuds. Just be sure to sign up for our loyalty program so you can access great discounts regularly.